Ice making and blocking machine



(No Model.)

G. I'. KNOX.

ICE MAKING AND BLOGKING MACHINE.

No. 363,248. Patentged May 1|?, 1887.

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GEORGEk F. KNOX, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

ICE MAKING AND BLOCKING MACHiNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,248, dated May 17, 1887.

Application filed Dcccmberl, 1886. Serial No. 221,422. (No modela) To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE F. KNOX, of San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice Making and Blocking Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure I is a side view of my improved icemachine in vertical section, taken on broken line I I, Fig. II. Fig. II is a front view, one half in vertical section and one half in front elevation, taken on line II II, Fig. I; and Fig. III is a horizontal section, taken on line III III, Fig. I, showing the refrigerating pan or tank filled with brine or other suitable uncongealable fluid and the evaporating coils through which ammonia or other refrigerant is forced.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for the manufacture of clear ice by freezing the blocks from the top down, and my ini vention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims. 4 i

Referring to the drawings, in which similar figures of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, l represents the upper section of one of my freezing-tanks, and 2 the lower section of the same.

3 are isolating-compartments that surround the refrigerating-pan and ice-forming tanks. These compartments may be filled with cork, charcoal, or any other suitable material, to act as non-conductors and isolate the tanks from the atmosphere and all warm currents.

Shallow refrigerating-pans 4, immediately adjacent above the freezing-tanks, are filled with brine or other suitable uncongealable liquid, and have located within the brine refrigerant coils 5, through which ammonia or other suitable evaporants or refrigerants are forced.

The upper portion of each of the freezingtanks is divided into bottomless compartments or molds 6, in which the ice is formed, and which determine the shape and size of the blocks 7, making them convenient to handle and of a uniform size for storage. The molds are surmounted by the aforesaid refrigerantpans, and their tops are of a slightly rounded or conical form at top, leaving tapering concavitics in the bottom of the refrigerant-pan into which the cold brine has free entrance. Each mold is provided with an air vent or pipe, 8, which rises from the center on the top of said molds and passes up through the brine in the refrigerating-pans to connecting-pipes 9 above, that discharge outside the apparatus, at 10. These vent-pipes allow the .free escape of the air from the molds (which are made slightly conica-l toward the entrance of the pipe) as the freezing-tanks are lled and the fresh water rises until it comes nearly in contact with the top of the molds in close proximity to the refrigerating-pan. The freezing process is thus begun in the upper parts of the bottomless molds and forces the dirt and air into the water beneath. The floors 1l of the tanks are laid on an incline toward the front of the same, where said tanks are provided with drop doors or locks 12, which are made water-tight by means of rubber gaskets 13.

14 represents a force-pump that is of fourfold application, namely: for the conveyance of water from the hydrant or other source to fill the freezing-tanks; the transfer of water from one tank where blocks have been formed to the other preparatory tothe formation of blocks there; the forcing of the ammonia or other' evaporant through the refrigerant-coils; and, lastly, the forcing of water through the tanks and wash-out Vpipes 15, that effect the purpose that their name denotes.

16 represents glass waterlevels that indicate the height of the water in the course of filling the molds, to enable the operator to judge correctly in stopping the supply to the tank.

17 represents overliow-pipes, that form outlets for the superabundant water should the operator fail to stop the supply before it reaches the top of the molds.

18 represents spy-glasses, through which the operator observes the process of freezing and judges as to the completion of the formation of the blocks.

When the ice is of the desired thickness, the ammonia or other contents of the refrigerant coils is shut off and sufficient warmth rises from the water below, which is slightly above freezing-point, to loosen the blocks of ice in IOO the molds and allow them to float in the water beneath, which the operator can observe through the spy-glasses. The unfrozen water is then pumpe'dfrom beneath the blocks into adjoining or other tanks, with the exception Yof the residue that contains the dirt that has been discharged in the formation of the ice, and the settlings, which are then removed through the wash-out pipes 15 vunder the efficient discharge of the force-pump. The blocks are thus gently lowered onto the inclined floor of the tank ready for being slid out through the doorway into the chute 19, and are then loaded up for shipment and storage.

In Figs. l and 2 are shown the lower tanks emptied of water, it having been pumped into the upper tanks. A catch of ice in blocks is seen to have left the molds above, as the remaining water not frozen is discharged and the blocks are now resting on the inclined bottom of the tank ready to be slid down the incline and out through the doorway into the chute.

Some of the advantages of my ice making and blocking machines77 are that they always freeze the water from the top down, and consequently produce pure ice, clear from dirt and center core, as they expel all foreign substances and air in the process of freezing into 1 lasting qualities of the ice.

the superfluous water beneath. The dirt then settles and is discharged through the washoutpipes, instead of, as is the. case when the process of freezing takes place from all sides, when all the dirt and other' foreign substances, including air, are driven toward the center, producing a foul imperfectly-frozen center-core, which is detrimental both to the purity and The impurities contained in such ice also cause an offensive taste and smell, and are a fruitful cause of disease among consumers.

Another advantage in my device is the ease with which the blocks are lowered as the water is withdrawn without abrasion against each other onto the inclined fioor of the tank, the inclination-of which causes them to be easily slid forward into the chute, from which they are discharged onto the load 5 also, if Y,it is desired to cause a slight movement in the water during the process of freezing, as many prefer to thus expel the air from the congealing water, the same can be effected by a slight action of the-force-pump,

, I have described and. shown twin ice-machines, and prefer so to construct them; but I do not so confine myself, for under some circumstances it may be of advantage to operate with several machines in connection, (where a large ,product is required) from the ease with which the surplus water can be conveyed from one to the other; and at other times it may be advantageous to use single machines or ones capable of producing, at one operation either a larger or smaller number of blocks, u according to the requirements of the establishnient where the machines are operated. It is evident that I may thus far diversify the construction and use of my machines without departing fromthe essential features of my 1nvention.

I claim as my inventionl. In an ice making and blocking machine, the combination of a non-conducting casing containing a freezing-tank having water supply and discharge pipes, molds supported 1n said casing having open bottoms above the bottom of said tank and tapered upwardly from said open bottoms, and a refrigeratingpan over said molds for containing the refrigerating medium, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a non-conducting casing containing a freezing-tank having' water supply and discharge pipes, a water-tight dlaphragm supported in said casing above the bottom of said tank having downwardly-tapered hollows in its upper surface and. corresponding upwardly-tapered molds in its under surface, and a refrigerating medium contained within the casing over said diaphragm and filling the hollows in the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth..

3. The combination of a non-conducting casing, a diaphragm dividing the interior thereof into an upper refrigerant-chamber and a lower freezing-chamber, water supply and dlscharge pipes connected with said freezing-chamber,

and air-discharge pipes opening into said freezbottomed molds upwardly tapered, air-pipes opening into the tops of said molds, a refrigerating-pan over` said molds, and watersupply and discharge pipes for the freezlng-chamber, substantially as set forth. 1

5. rIhe combination of a non-conducting c asing, a diaphragm within said casingdividlng it into a lower freezing-chamber and an u pper refrigerating-pan, a non-congealing fluid 1n said pan, a coil in said uid for the passage of a suitablesrefrigerant, means, substantially as described, for controlling the passage of the refrigerant in said coil, and water supply and discharge pipes for the freezing chamber, whereby when the passage of the ammonia or other refrigerant is interrupted the air of the water in the freezing-chamber will rise to set forth.

IOO

6. The combination of a nonconducting casing, a freezing-chamber havingaslantingioor, a door in the end of the casing at the lower end of said floor, water supply and discharge pipes, molds above the ioor of the freezingchamber having air-pipes at top, and a refrigerating-pan over the freezing-chamber,where by when the flow of the refrigerant is stopped vand the water drawn off from the freezingchamber the ice blocks will settle to the ioor thereof and be readily removed, substantially as set forth.

non-congealing liquid in lche latter, a coiled pipein said liquid, Water supply and discharge pipS for the freezing-chamber, and a pump I5 for charging and discharging the freezingchamber, cleaning the lather, and forcing the ammonia through the refrigerating-coil, sub- Sbantially aS Set forth.

GEORGE F. KNOX.

Vitnesses:

JAMES SIMPSON, W. L. SIMPSON. 

